Lee Westwood believes he needs to get more consistent with his ball-striking. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Strong finish at PGA leaves Westwood wanting more

Lee Westwood finished his week at Southern Hills with a flawless 68 to go with his opening 69. He made the cut in all four majors this year, and hopes his performance here will help him step up and contend in the big events next year.

TULSA, Okla. (PA) -- Lee Westwood was flawless in his final round of the PGA Championship Sunday, but his performances in the majors still needs some work.

The Englishman shot a 2-under 68 on Sunday at steamy Southern Hills to finish at 6-over 286 at Southern Hills.

An opening 69 had Westwood placed nicely among the leaders, but he struggled over his next 36 holes. A 74 on Friday followed by a 75 on Saturday had Westwood out early for the final round, and he turned in a bogey-free performance.

"No bogeys, two birdies. I played well and I hit a lot of fairways," he said. "It wasn't too bad a week.

"I started well and finished well," he added. "But I've got to keep working on my technique and get my swing more consistent and hit more fairways."

Westwood has 17 European Tour victories, including one this season at the Valle Romano Open, but he has yet to break through in a major. He made the cut in all four this season, but Westwood has higher ambitions than to just play all four rounds.

"I would like to contend in them all," he said. "It's a good achievement to make all four cuts, but people don't remember who makes all four.

"It's hard to do but it's gradually improving. I feel I'm much closer in the majors," he explained. "I've been in decent position but not shot the rounds when I needed to. It's just a matter of putting four good rounds together."

Westwood was only able to play two good rounds at Southern Hills and said it would take an extraordinary round for anyone to reel in Tiger Woods. The contenders will not only have to deal with the pressure that comes on Sunday in a major, he said, but with some adverse conditions as well.

"I had a good chance from four feet at 11 but somebody must have crampons on. The greens are really tearing up and there could be a problem later on," he said. "It's the nine-millimeter spikes. I don't wear them out of respect to others, but it happens at places like Valderrama and here.

"I think the heat and the difficulty will stop anyone from shooting a really low round, but the spike marks don't help," he added. "Until we do something about the long steel spikes it's going to keep happening, especially on greens like this."